Renewed and returning: “Frock Stars,” “Operatives”

In this week's round-up, renewals are in store for Pivot's The Operatives, History's Counting Cars and the Smithsonian Channel's L.A. Frock Stars (pictured).

In this week’s round-up, renewals are in store for Pivot’s The Operatives, History’s Counting Cars and National Geographic Channel’s Building Wild, while the Smithsonian Channel’s L.A. Frock Stars (pictured) and the CBC’s Dragon’s Den are also set to return.

U.S. net Pivot has signed on for a second season of eco-adventure series The Operatives. Produced by AMO Media, the program follows conservationist Pete Bethune and his team as they set out to combat international threats to wildlife and the environment. The second season – which begins production on February 15 – will see the crew tackling issues around rhino extinction, orangutan habitat loss and illegal turtle smuggling.

Elsewhere, History is bringing back Counting Cars for another season on February 24 at 9 p.m. EST/PST. The Leftfield Pictures-produced show follows Danny “The Count” Koker and the staff at his auto customization shop as they work on various cars and motorcycles. The series is entering its fourth season on the net.

Also returning on February 24 is National Geographic Channel’s do-it-yourself series Building Wild, which is back for a second season. The show follows designer Paul DiMeo and woodsman Pat “Tuffy” Bakaitis as they work together on their cabin design and construction business, the Cabin Kings. The series – which was Nat Geo’s first foray into the DIY construction space – is produced by 90 Miles in association with Hoosick Falls Productions and Shake Media Inc. It will air at 9 p.m. EST/PST on February 24.

Meanwhile, the Smithsonian Channel is readying the second season premiere of L.A. Frock Stars, which comes back on March 19 at 9 p.m. EST/PST. The series follows vintage fashion plate Doris Raymond and her Hollywood-set shop The Way We Wore. Among the clients who drop by the store in the forthcoming season are burlesque artist Dita von Teese, designer Jeremy Scott and actress Debi Mazar. The series is produced by NHNZ and Smithsonian Channel.

In Canada, broadcaster CBC is moving ahead with a 10th season of Dragon’s Den. The series – produced in-house at the CBC – features a group of aspiring entrepreneurs who pitch their ideas to a panel of five investors. Auditions for the forthcoming season will kick off in Toronto on Saturday (February 7).